Posts Tagged ‘Offshore Wind Regulations’
Toronto Sun: Dalton’s green dance: Goldstein
Dalton’s green dance: Goldstein
The premier’s making up the rules as he goes along on the energy file
By LORRIE GOLDSTEIN, TORONTO SUN
The more you examine Premier Dalton McGuinty’s “green” energy strategy, the more you come to the conclusion his government is faking it.
Making it up as it goes along, often for the sake of political expediency, complete with blatant double standards for urban versus rural Ontario.
The latest example is Ontario’s proposed minimum 5-km setback for offshore wind farms. That compares to a minimum of 550 metres and a maximum of 1.5 km away from any dwelling for land-based wind farms.
A skeptic might suggest the 5-km minimum offshore setback is intended to calm public concerns in the four urban, Liberal-held ridings, centred around Scarborough Guildwood, most directly impacted by Toronto Hydro’s proposal to build a 60-turbine wind farm in Lake Ontario off the Bluffs.
This by putting the project largely out of sight and out of mind.
In addition, Energy Minister Brad Duguid who oversees the green energy file, represents a fifth Liberal-held riding, Scarborough Centre, adjacent to Scarborough Guildwood. In that context, a comment by Duguid when the environment ministry last month proposed the 5-km minimum offshore setback, was shocking.
He told the Toronto Star: “I think it sets to rest the concerns of some moderate people, who were concerned if they go to the beach, they could be looking up at a huge wind turbine.” Huh?
A spokesman for Duguid said he was explaining opponents of the project have been citing worst case-scenarios in the absence of any setback announced by the province, and this proposal helped bring certainty to the issue.
But that doesn’t change what Duguid said. He clearly said public concerns (at least urban ones) about the aesthetics of wind turbines, specifically how they look, given that they are massive structures, are legitimate. After all, it worries even “moderate people.”
There are two problems with Duguid’s statement.
First, it flies in the face of what McGuinty has said — that the only legitimate opposition to wind farms is for environmental and safety reasons and people who object over anything else — including aesthetics — are “NIMBYS” who just don’t want the things anywhere near them for irrational reasons.
This argument has been constantly leveled at rural residents who, among many other reasons, oppose wind factories towering over their homes for aesthetic reasons and their negative impact on property values.
Funny, I don’t recall McGuinty and the Liberals ever going to war against residential neighbourhoods in Toronto, who constantly fight over the height of proposed apartment buildings for aesthetic reasons, and because of fears tall buildings will lower surrounding residential property values.
Ironically, the Liberals are supported in their selective assault on rural Ontarians by Toronto-based environmentalists and media, all from a city with one industrial wind turbine at Exhibition Place, nowhere near any homes, because wind farms aren’t practical in cities. Thus, urban self-righteousness comes easily.
The second problem with Duguid’s remark is aesthetics isn’t one of the reasons the environment ministry gives for its recommended 5-km offshore setback.
The reasons are to: (a) keep turbines clear of drinking water intakes; (b) protect sensitive ecological areas close to shore; (c) provide a sufficient buffer from noise, since it travels further over water and (d) safeguard boaters and swimmers.
Duguid and the environment ministry say Ontario’s recommended offshore setback is in line with those proposed by several U.S. states.
But objecting to wind turbines over aesthetics is legitimate or it isn’t. You can’t suggest, as the Liberals are, it’s legitimate for “moderate” urban residents, illegitimate for “NIMBY” rural ones.
Toronto Hydro is re-assessing its proposed Lake Ontario project in light of the recommended 5-km setback, which could be modified during an upcoming provincial review process.
John Laforet, president of Wind Concerns Ontario, ironically a former Liberal and acting executive assistant to Duguid, now a municipal candidate in Toronto’s ward 43, says if the Liberals hope community opposition will end with their proposed 5-km offshore setback, they’re dreaming.
Opponents don’t believe it will stop the Toronto Hydro project, and, in any event, the community is opposed to the project, period, because of pollution, noise, safety and other concerns.
In other words, the size of the setback is irrelevant.
No Comments »Scarborough Mirror: New setbacks for offshore wind projects may quash wind farm proposal
Scarborough Mirror: New setbacks for offshore wind projects may quash wind farm proposal
Danielle Milley
Recently released provincial setbacks for offshore wind projects could quash Toronto Hydro’s wind farm proposal, but Guildwood residents aren’t giving up their fight.
In an announcement Friday, June 25, the provincial government released proposed regulations for offshore wind projects that would require a minimum setback of five kilometres from the shoreline.
The Toronto Hydro project has always been talked about as being two to four kilometres offshore as Lake Ontario drops off around the five kilometre mark, which could substantially increase the cost of the project.
But, John Laforet doesn’t believe these regulations would stop turbines from being erected off the Scarborough Bluffs.
“I have absolutely no faith that the provincial proposed regulations will stop the Toronto Hydro project,” he said.
“Toronto Hydro is not saying this project is dead.”
Laforet is the president of Wind Concerns Ontario, a Guildwood resident and a candidate for municipal council in Scarborough East.
He believes the proposals are just a way of placating a community where many residents are upset about the possibility of a wind farm of up to 60 turbines that would stretch from Ajax to the Leslie Street Spit.
Brad Duguid, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, had been in discussion with Toronto Hydro about the proposed regulations.
“From what I’ve heard from Toronto Hydro this does put the project at risk,” he said.
Toronto Hydro said Monday it is still reviewing the regulations and wouldn’t have a comment before The Mirror’s press deadline.
On June 10, in an interview during a press tour to see the anemometer, which is currently testing wind speeds in the lake, Joyce McLean of Toronto Hydro said she believed if the project went ahead it would conform to any provincial standards.
“We’re not concerned because we believe what we’re proposing is a reasonable distance from shore,” she said.
Duguid said the five kilometres setback is in line with other North American jurisdictions.
“We looked at a number of different priorities,” he said. “We wanted something that was in synch with other jurisdictions in the Great Lakes.”
Ohio, New York and Michigan all have a five kilometre setback in place, he said.
As well, Duguid said the government looked at the environmental and ecological impacts of allowing wind turbines closer to shore.
“There can be impacts to drinking water with stirring up the lake bed,” he said.
Sherri Lange thinks that should be a concern for putting a turbine anywhere in bodies of water used as drinking water.
“We’re very firm that we don’t want turbines in the lake,” she said.
Lange is the founding director of Toronto Wind Action.
“We’re disappointed the minute someone has a setback announcement, it means they’re willing to put turbines in the lake and that’s not acceptable,” she said.
Just like Laforet she doesn’t believe this announcement kills Toronto Hydro’s project either.
“There’s no white flag that I can sense,” Lange said. “Our battles with Toronto Hydro are certainly not over.”
Duguid thought these regulations would ease worries of Ontario’s residents, especially those in Guildwood, but it seems it hasn’t provided that reassurance.
“This should be viewed as a positive step forward in terms of bringing stability in the process of offshore wind,” he said.
He did admit applications could be approved that don’t conform with the regulations.
“I’m not positive that there wouldn’t be opportunities to make exceptions,” Duguid said.
In addition to the setback, another proposed rule would require turbine developers to complete a comprehensive application process. This would include addressing potential impacts to endangered and threatened species and their habitat, significant wildlife habitats, users of Crown land, flooding and erosion.
At the same time, the Ministry of Natural Resources is undertaking a review of Ontario’s current process for making Crown land available for off-shore wind projects. This review will include consideration of where, when and how the government makes Crown land available. The area in Lake Ontario is Crown land.
The province is seeking comments on the proposals for the next 60 days, accessible through the province’s environmental registry (registry number 011-0089). Public and industry consultation sessions will also be held starting in the fall.
Dates and locations will be available soon at www.ontario.ca
No Comments »Toronto Star: Ontario proposes pushing wind turbines 5 km from shore
My Editorial: Anyone to says Toronto Hydro’s project has dead is not telling the truth. Toronto Hydro has made no such statement. The Minister of Energy has suggested there may be loopholes and nothing is stopping Toronto Hydro from coming back at 5 kilometres. There is also a small window for them to run against the clock to get approvals in advance of the new regulations. – John Laforet
Toronto Star: Ontario proposes pushing wind turbines 5 km from shore
John Spears
Business Reporter
Offshore wind turbines should not be closer than 5 kilometres from the shoreline, Ontario’s environment ministry has proposed.
If approved, the guideline would appear to pose problems for Toronto Hydro’s proposed wind development off the Scarborough Bluffs.
Toronto Hydro wants to erect up to 60 turbines in Lake Ontario on a reef that runs two to four kilometers offshore, from the east end of Toronto to Ajax.
Earlier this month, the company installed a device to measure wind speeds in the area.
Toronto Hydro has said it chose the site because of the shallow water on the reef. Farther offshore, the water is much deeper and the turbines would cost much more to install.
Tanya Bruckmueller of Toronto Hydro said the company needs time to study the ministry proposal, and plans to participate in the consultation process.
The ministry will hold public consultation sessions in the fall on the proposed guidelines, and a 60-day comment period has opened on the Ontario environmental registry. (Registry number 011-0089.)
In addition to the 5-kilometre exclusion zone, the environment ministry is proposing that off-shore wind proposals would have to go through a “stringent and comprehensive application process.”
Energy Minister Brad Duguid said the proposed guideline provides clarity to proponents of wind power projects and to people who may be affected by them.
“I think it sets to rest the concerns of some moderate people who were concerned that if they go to the beach, they could be looking up at a huge wind turbine,” he said in an interview.
The 5 kilometre zone is in the mid-range of zones proposed by several U.S. states, he said, and will affect different wind project differently.
“Some will be able to adjust, others will certainly be impacted,” he said
John Laforet, president of Wind Concerns Ontario and a vocal opponent of Toronto Hydro’s proposal, said the 5 kilometre guideline is “totally inadequate.”
“They’re hoping community opposition will die down because they’ve thrown us a very small bone,” he said, adding he will continue to lead opposition to wind projects.
Ontario is pushing for more electricity from renewable sources, as it shuts down coal-fired generating stations. It will pay 19 cents a kilowatt hour to offshore wind generators; the average market price paid to generators for June has been just over 4 cents.
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